Friday, May 31, 2013

Earliest Signs of Pregnancy - The Shocking Truth


Whether you're planning on a baby or not, there are a few early pregnant symptoms that will answer the question, "Am I Pregnant?" These earliest signs of pregnancy can be easy to spot. If not, you can always take a pregnancy test.

The most common indication that you could possibly be pregnant is a missed period. Keeping track of your menstrual cycles can cut down on all the guess work but, you still may not know for sure. Besides missing a period, there are a few symptoms to look for.

If you have nausea and or vomiting, you may be experiencing one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. While this symptom can add stress & possibly embarrassing moments to your everyday life, it should only last during the first trimester. If you're still experiencing nausea and/or vomiting further into your second and third trimesters you should talk to your doctor about possible medications.

Your changing hormone levels are the main culprit for most of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Breast tenderness or swollen breasts may begin to be a bother. What can you do to relieve pain? The best thing to do is buy a more supportive bra. Keep in mind that your breasts will become larger throughout pregnancy so, buy a larger size to accommodate for this change during your nine months of pregnancy.

The once pleasant smell of a candle or perfume may now seem like toxic gas. Your sensitivity to smell is most likely caused by the rising levels of HCG hormones in your body. Your sense of smell, taste may seem quite strange and unfamiliar because of the sensitivity from the hormones, this is indeed an experience that some mothers will notice when pregnant.

Are you suddenly sleepy all the time? Fatigue is a common sign of pregnancy. While the cause is not entirely known, most signs point to hormones. Remember, your body is creating life. Growing a baby is exhausting work. While you may still have all your normal responsibilities of life it is important to listen to your body. Don't over-exhaust yourself and stress with the daily chores, let your husband and family help out whenever they can to ease the work load.

Due to your bodies rising blood flow, you will need to use the bathroom more often. Frequent urination will be one of the first signs of pregnancy and last until the very end. You may be getting up several times during the night to urinate losing even more sleep.

Many women may not experience any of these symptoms. If you're still wondering, "Am I pregnant?" after reviewing these early pregnant symptoms, a pregnancy test is a relativity easy way to find out or a visit to your doctor.

How Human Growth Hormones Pills Slow Down the Aging Process


You know how it is looking back at old photographs of yourself when you were in your roaring twenties; full of youth, vigor, energy and generally an animal. Now when you look in the mirror (if you dare to that is) what looks back at you is an older, wiser and somewhat wrinkled replica of your past youth. Help is at hand though if you know what to look for... Human growth hormones (HGH) pills can aid in stopping these ravages of time and help you to regain a little of the looks you once had.

Human growth hormones pills are supplement that are made from naturally found ingredients and can be purchased without a doctor's prescription from the internet, now some pharmacies also are beginning to stock these therapies. How they work is that the pills when taken, act as a trigger mechanism causing the pituitary gland to release greater amounts of the growth hormone. It has been in use by bodybuilders for many years to help increase muscle mass and keep fatty cells from gaining a foothold.

Now people are beginning to recognize the value of using these HGH pills to help stop the signs of aging that seem to hit harder from the age of 40 onwards. When used by older people as a regular supplement, these pills have increased the elasticity of skin and given them increased energy, as well as helped them to regain their sexual appetite again. Human growth hormones pills are not made from growth hormones though and any pill that claims to have this is either breaking the law or pure hogwash.

When a course of human growth hormones pills are being thought about as a therapy, it will be better to do two things; one is to have a consultation with your doctor to ascertain if the pills are right for your particular circumstances, and two, to thoroughly research the topic online to find the best possible product. Many companies have sprouted up now and are advertising these pills as the new wonder cure to fight aging, unfortunately not all of them have the same ingredients and these will have little or no effect on the overall condition of the user. So you have to be extra careful but fret not because you can find valuable information in the author box below this article.

Growth hormones are produces in an area of the brain called the pituitary gland this gland becomes active at birth and remains active throughout the whole life span however when it reaches a certain age it starts to decrease the amount of growth hormone produced and this reduction increases slowly year on year. Human growth hormones pills when taken send a message to this gland and trigger an increase in production again, the overall effect being a general improvement in health, the ability to fight illness better, and less wrinkling of the skin has been reported too.

So in conclusion, human growth hormones or HGH pills will help you to slow down some of the depressing effects of aging but they will not stop it completely. If taken regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle the benefits will be reaped.

If you need to know which are the best human growth hormones pills to get, you can always Google for them. But that, in itself, may present another problem - fake info and false reviews. So you really need to do your own due diligence when it comes to finding the brands. Yet that is often too time consuming and tedious. That's why we have done some detective work and found the best ones for you in our resource box below. Do check it out now.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Lack of Concentration - How Hormonal Imbalance at Menopause Causes Confusion


Menopause can adversely affect your ability to concentrate. It may become even more difficult to focus than before, you may also feel disorientated and experience a general state of mental confusion that is all-too-common at this mid-life transition.

These symptoms can be further exacerbated for women who have undergone a hysterectomy. Women find themselves often worrying whether or not they have forgotten to turn the iron off, or maybe they frequently forget to turn off the television before departing for work.

Menopause closely correlates with some decline in mental functions such as memory loss and the ability to clearly concentrate. Your ability to recall certain events and the ability to focus is often affected due to crucial hormonal imbalances in your system.

Estrogen regulates many female processes and plays a role in working with the neurotransmitters in the brain, sending signals to and from; in effect estrogen is responsible for maintaining healthy memory. Lost levels of this vital female hormone will quite simply affect your brain's ability to function.

Couple this with the fact that menopausal woman are already undergoing stressful situations with numerous midlife transitions such as aging parents and children leaving home, and often women find themselves in very challenging situations.

Excessive stress can cause forgetfulness and you might feel distracted by the new range of responsibilities you have to face as you move into this next phase of life. Depression and fear over facing issues such as long-term illness, death and living alone can also result in difficulty in focusing, feelings of disorientation and mental confusion.

Remember, your concentration may be affected, but it is not as a result of getting older. It is the result of the hormonal imbalance and that can be helped significantly with natural, bioidentical hormones.

Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol -- both of these can significantly increase menopause symptoms. Consume hormones that speed up bodily processes, like the over-the-counter drug DHEA. DHEA is short for dehydroepiandrosterone and is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands as well as by the brain and the skin, and is the most abundant steroid in the human body.

It has been reported that by the time we reach the age of 80 our DHEA level is only 15% of what it was when we were 25. Researchers say DHEA may prove to protect against cancer and heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol and preventing blood clots.

Recent studies also demonstrate that DHEA improves memory, strengthens the immune system, prevents bone loss and may even protect us from diabetes and autoimmune disease. It has been shown to fight fatigue and depression as well as enhance feelings of well being and increase strength. If all this sounds too good to e true, DHEA has also been reported to alleviate symptoms of menopause, reduce body fat and even enhance libido.

Perimenopause and Why Topical Bioidentical Hormones May Help You Stay Young and Cancer Free


Wheel of Fortune Fascinates Me. What's Wrong?

The onset of menopause can be a difficult and confusing time for a woman. Symptoms can be as vague as weight gain, sleeplessness, memory loss, dry eyes, low libido, depressed mood, or irritability. Or they can be more characteristic like hot flashes, night sweats, and amenorrhea. A profound sense of "loss of self" can be seriously disconcerting. A feeling of being "in a fog" may interfere with your life considerably.

Menopause is a constellation of signs and symptoms associated with decreased production by the ovaries of three variants of estrogen and progesterone. It seems modern menopause tends to be more symptomatic than in the past when women tended to be serially pregnant during their fertile years rather than delaying pregnancy and averaging just over two kids. Complicating matters are big studies that have shown long term hormone replacement therapy with premarin and provera seem to increase the risk of cancer.

Guess what? Premarin is made by big pharma from horse urine. The patented semisynthetic estrogen we know as premarin is not human estrogen at all! And provera is a patented drug as well, it's not progesterone. In fact the cardio protective effects of estrogen are well known to be neutralized with synthetic progestins but not by human progesterone. In fact your body is designed to have many babies over your lifetime and to encounter a veritable flood of natural hormones in a periodic way. I have never heard that having many kids causes cancer, indeed women with no children are at increased risk.

Why pregnant mare urine? It's plentiful and therefore cheaper to produce. Why don't the drug companies just focus on natural human hormones? I don't know all the details but I do know you cannot patent estrogen. Oral hormones also pass first to the liver where they raise the levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which is bad. More on that in a later blog.

So many doctors have abandoned HRT altogether, and therefore many women assume that only cancer and death lurk in trying to outfox mother nature. Other physicians myself included agree that synthetic horse urine taken orally may not be a good idea. But BIOIDENTICAL hormones administered in a far more gentle way with some thought to the individual patient not only help treat symptoms of menopause but protect women from heart attacks, bone loss, and premature aging.

Next time I'm going to tell you about the three kinds of human estrogen and why we should use them all, how progesterone balances estrogen, and how testosterone isn't just for "Manopause" anymore.

To your health,

Dr Z

Controlling Your Menstrual Cycle With Follicle Stimulating Hormones


Follicle stimulating hormone is a hormone that plays an important role in sexual development. It is made in the pituitary gland. It also is relative to the menstrual cycle. It helps to regulate women's periods and also helps the ovaries to produce eggs. For this reason, it is important when it comes to fertility.

FSH levels will vary from one woman to the next, and will also vary throughout the month. When ovulation occurs, these levels are at their highest. If the levels are too high or too low, it may mean that there are fertility issues going on.

When Levels are Too High

If FSH levels are too high, it can actually lead to issues with ovulation. It can also be a cause for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Some women experience high levels of follicle stimulating hormone during menopause and just after menopause. When this happens, it can really affect fertility.

When Levels are Too Low

If the levels are too low, there can be issues when it comes to egg production. Generally, this is caused by an issue with the pituitary gland. Another reason that women may have low FSH levels is due to stress. Low FSH levels can also lead to fertility issues.

The Effects of the FSH Levels

Hormones affect both female fertility and male fertility. Men and women both have FSH levels in their system. This is because it also helps with sperm production. With higher levels of FSH, the testicles may not work the way they are supposed to. With lower levels of FSH, there may be an issue with sperm production. With this in mind, it is important to realize that the levels are important to men and women.

FSH Testing

If a couple is having issues with fertility, it may be a good idea for them to go to the doctor and have their FSH levels tested. The testing can really help when it comes to determining causes for infertility. In order to do the testing, it is important to plan it for just the right time of month for women. The best time to do this test is around the fifth day of the menstrual cycle. Many women hesitate when it comes time to actually have the test done, but it can really help to solve a lot of issues when it comes to overall health and fertility in women and men.

What Are The Main Reasons For Late Period


Wondering on the possible reasons for late period and why it has not arrived on your expected date? If you are trying to conceive a baby, then you would be looking at this positively. However, if you are not, then you should start exploring the probable causes why you missed your period. There are many reasons for a delayed period. By reading this article, you will be able to go over them one by one.

First and foremost, you might be pregnant! Use pregnancy test kits to determine the reasons for your late period. Try different brands to countercheck results. If you are pregnant, then take the necessary steps like consulting an obstetrician. If not, then you need to search for other reasons.

Stress and Anxiety

One of the most common reasons for late period is stress and anxiety. Emotional and psychological concerns can manifest physically and can potentially disrupt your normal menstrual cycle. Typical reasons for late period are situations when you are stressed out and in a high-anxiety mode for long periods of time. Your hormones can go out of control and could be one of the contributing reasons for your late menstruation. Take time out to relax. Get some rest and chill out in comfortable surroundings. You need to acquire the inner balance and to give your hormones a jumpstart to get the rhythm back.

Medication or treatments can also be reasons for late period. Some medication may actually cause delay in your cycle. If you are on the pill, this is usually one of the side effects. Certain types of contraception can also be one of the reasons for missed period. Carefully check out the medicines that you have been taking and see if they have any hormonally related side effects. Just remember not to self-medicate for this can be dangerous.

As stated above, the common reasons for a delayed period are conceiving a child, stress and medications. But when all these are not the cause, then you'd better get your doctor's opinion. Perhaps the cause for your late menstruation is related to hormonal or physical changes that have occurred. These can range from menopause to hormonal problems. Other possible reasons can also be brought about by age or triggered by some pathogens in your body. It is important to get checked for any physical or medical conditions in order to recognize the exact reasons for late period. Either way, it is best to get the opinion from your doctor.

Main Reasons For Late Period

Moreover, reasons for a delayed menstruation are quite diverse other than pregnancy. Missed periods can be observed when taking oral contraceptives, during climate changes, under stress, and having a poor diet. To establish the reasons for missed period, the woman's age (puberty, sexual maturity, pre-menopause) should be considered. Here are the main reasons:

  • Pregnancy: It is the first thing you should think of among all reasons for missed period, especially if you are sexually active. Such reasons for a dealyed period cannot be disregarded. There are cases when you become pregnant even if sexual intercourse was done during the time of menstruation. Pregnancy can also occur if you missed taking your pills regularly.

  • Abortion: This is one of the reasons for a delayed menstruation when hormonal imbalance happens after a miscarriage. The removal of internal tissues inside the uterus during miscarriage or instrumental curettage causes a temporary disruption on the reproductive organs and could potentially be one of the reasons for a delayed period. To restore these tissues, it will take some time, usually a month or 40 days after the abortion or miscarriage. Such situations call for medical supervision.

If none of the above mentioned are the reasons for late period and you still have not gotten your period for three months, it is time for you to see a health care professional. However, it is advisable to practice birth control measures if you are not planning on having a child.

Perimenopause Pregnancy - What Are the Odds and Risks When You Are Over 35?


A woman's body undergoes so many changes in a woman's lifetime. Oftentimes, these changes and symptoms indicate the age of a woman or the transition stages that she goes through to wit: when a girl hits her teens-she experiences menstruation -indicating that her body is ready for childbearing. When a woman hits her late 30's onwards-she experiences the first signs of perimenopause which is defined as the process of change a woman feels leading to menopause. Perimenopause lasts no less than two years to over eight years. Then in her 50's a woman goes through her menopause-which is the end of her menstrual period. So, the various phases a woman's body goes through cannot belie her real age.

Perimenopause is the period when a woman's body experiences a decline in the production of ovum (egg supply) both in quantity and quality. This results in a change in hormones and premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) that are more intense or of a different nature than previously felt. Perimenopause marks the beginning of the end-beginning of the decline of a woman's child bearing stage.

What are the odds of a woman getting pregnant when she is over 35?

The woman's ovulation and menstruation becomes irregular when a woman's supply of ova or egg continues to decline. The decline in a woman's egg supply results in diminished fertility and is most noticeable after the mid 30s.

In their 40's, the menstrual cycle of a woman becomes increasingly irregular and may do so until menopause and this also compromises fertility. Often, health-conscious women in this age group do not seek prenatal care when they become pregnant; they often assume that the skipped period which is the first sign of pregnancy is instead the first sign of menopause.

What are the risks of a woman getting pregnant when she is over 35?

As an outcome of irregular production of hormones Perimenopausal pregnancy becomes high risk-officially, pregnancies at age 35 are high risks. However, if a woman is fit and healthy, she may enjoy the energy usually associated with a younger woman, if and when she becomes pregnant at age 35 and over. Doctors say that a woman's physical well-being during pregnancy depends more on who she is than how old she is. Nevertheless, a woman should be aware of chronic conditions that complicate pregnancy where it first becomes evident. These chronic conditions can be diabetes or high blood pressure. Also, even if one is in tip top shape, starting at the age of 35, there is an increasing risk for pregnancy-specific conditions including gestational diabetes.

Pregnancies at 35 and over, have the odds of giving birth to a baby with a chromosomal problem such as Down syndrome where a baby is born with an extra chromosome. Getting pregnant during perimenopause also gives the risk of miscarriage from amniocentesis, which is a diagnostic test given to look for chromosomal defects by examining the amniotic fluid. This test calls for the fluid being removed through a needle inserted in the mother's abdomen. Although the risk is still minimal, the risk is significantly higher when compared to a woman in her twenties. Other risk a woman may encounter at perimenopause pregnancy is Placenta Previa, where the placenta grows near the cervix and causes bleeding.

Perimenopausal pregnancy when over 35 and over 40, medically speaking, is the most difficult age for pregnancy. At this decade, a woman has used up the highest-quality ova, slowing down conception. The ova that are now left in the body are those that take the longest to respond to the body's cues for release, and which also don't function well during fertilization. This condition or state of the ova further raises the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and miscarriage.

It is with interest to note however that while is now at this age that is hardest, to get pregnant, the likelihood to carry multiples - in itself another high-risk pregnancy -- even without medical intervention is not far-off. A possible reason could be that the shift in hormone levels during menopause stimulates the release of more than one egg at ovulation -- like a natural fertility drug.

Standard tests on pregnancies become risky when given to pregnant women over 35 since it entails the removal of tissue from the placenta risking a miscarriage albeit a low level.

Pregnancy after the age of 35 may worsen chronic conditions as well as early signs of aging, such as stiff, sore joints. Varicose veins may multiply and worsen. A slower metabolism may result in much weight gain, lethargy and sluggishness.

So, would you dare defy the odds and face the risks and get pregnant when you are over 35?
Later pregnancies have physical downsides as doctors are quick to point out but a list of other advantages balance the risks. For starters, greater financial stability, may enable one to focus more on motherhood. Having proven themselves professionally, women in their mid-thirties and over, may be more flexible and patient having faced more challenges in their lifetime.